Union Lodge #38, F. & A. M. of Kingston Tennessee, announces the 37th annual Eblen's Cave Degree Weekend, August 15-16, 2008. This annual event just gets bigger every year, and draws visitors from all over the country. This year's degree will be the Entered Apprentice degree, and will be conferred with North Carolina ritual, performed by Creasy-Proctor Lodge #679, from Fayetteville, N.C.A Masonic degree is conferred every year in Eblen's Cave, a natural cave that can comfortably hold 300 people. It is located 8 miles east of Kingston on the Clayton Brashears farm. Over the years, degrees have been presented by lodges from Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, Delaware, California, Florida, Mississippi, Kansas, North and South Carolina, Virginia, Ohio and Maryland.
As has been pointed out in (deleted) comments by a couple of the usual champions of anonymous potshots, no, Tennessee does not recognize Prince Hall Freemasonry. I wish they did. I wish this wasn't an issue. But the brethren in Tennessee have to make that decision. And all of the anonymous mouthing off and sock-puppet hand grenades lobbed their way won't do one infinitesimal thing to change that.
ReplyDeleteOnce again, T.Ron and Alphonse and 2 Bowl, I don't care if you post here. But have the balls to identify yourself.
I was passed at this even in 2006. NO, Prince Hall Masons are not welcomed. This topic was repeated to me many times at the event.
ReplyDeleteS&F,
BC
It remains a sad blot on US Freemasonry. Eleven US Grand Lodges still do not recognize Prince Hall Freemasonry, and all of them are, tellingly, former Confederate states. That is nothing to be proud of.
ReplyDeleteAfrican American Masons have been raised in mainstream lodges across the South in recent years, and a few have served as Worshipful Masters in mainstream lodges (North Carolina and Florida, most recently). But the racial divide needs to fall all across North American Freemasonry – on BOTH sides of the fraternity, Prince Hall and mainstream.
That said, I hope the Tennessee event is successful. Brad, you had a truly unique opportunity. And it is by the interaction with Masons from all over the country that attitudes will change and the barriers of the past will fall.